Senate braces for ‘train wreck’ as hearings kick off for Trump Cabinet picks

An Alaska man, Kell Morris, survived being trapped face-down under a 700-pound boulder in a creek for about three hours, thanks to his wife, Jo Roop, who held his head above water until help arrived. The incident occurred near Godwin Glacier while hiking on a rocky trail, where Morris tumbled down an embankment and was struck by the boulder. With the assistance of local firefighters and a helicopter, he was airlifted to a hospital, where...

Multiple senior officials from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are departing the Trump administration as Elon Musk steps away from his role as a Special Government Employee. Key departures include James Burnham, DOGE's chief attorney, and Steve Davis, a senior adviser, along with Katie Miller, who will work with Musk post-departure. Although Musk plans to remain an unofficial adviser to President Trump, his critical remarks regarding Trump's recent spending bill have raised questions about...

This year, Brood XIV of cicadas is emerging after 17 years underground, primarily in Kentucky and Tennessee, with sightings expected in several other states. This one-in-17-year event will see cicadas surface in lower numbers compared to last year when multiple broods emerged. While cicadas are harmless to humans and pets, they play a crucial role in the ecosystem by aerating soil and serving as a food source for various predators. Full Article

In the San Francisco Bay area, six gray whales have died in the past week, raising the total to 15 stranded whales this year, including 14 gray whales and one minke whale. Authorities from the California Academy of Sciences and the Marine Mammal Center are struggling to determine the causes of these deaths due to challenging necropsy conditions, with some cases suspected to be caused by vessel strikes. With a notable increase in gray whale...

Several dozen wildfires in Canada have prompted states of emergency, leading to mass evacuations and concerns about smoke reaching the U.S. Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe declared an emergency as 17 active wildfires were reported, with 15 communities evacuated due to severe dry conditions. As the situation worsens, smoke from these fires is expected to affect areas across the northern U.S., including reaching Green Bay, Wisconsin, by midday Friday. Full Article

Bernard Kerik, Former NYPD Commissioner, Dies at 69 Bernard Kerik, who served as New York City's police commissioner during the 9/11 attacks, has died at 69 after a private battle with illness, confirmed by the NYPD. A veteran and recipient of over 100 decorations for bravery, Kerik's career included a fall from grace after pleading guilty to tax fraud in 2010, serving three years in prison, and receiving a presidential pardon from Donald Trump in...